Katrina

Lucretius · Post by **Lucretius** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:17 pm

Yea, and we're still feeling a good blow of this female of the dog species...

Post by **benheck** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:37 pm

Worst thing, this [hurricane] is used to justify a 21 cent jump in gas prices [in Madison, WI it went 2.64 to 2.85 from 8-29-05 to 8-30-05] in ONE FRICKING DAY!!!!!

What's next, Saddam farts in prison and it jumps another 10 cents?

WALL STREET CTF DOWN!

Post by **Sparkfist** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:45 pm

Be glad at those prices Ben. I heard in the Metro Detriot area so gas stations were up to $3.35 and I saw on the news many stations that had gas at $2.99.

I can only hope we get this mess down there solved quick otherwise the gas stations will charge us like gas is in Europe.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:44 am

HomicidalBarber wrote:Im in oregon good luck to everyone near though

erth quakes... (my island expecaily)

Post by **benheck** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:34 am

What I don't get is they say the national average is $2.50 or whatever. WHO is getting it that cheap?

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 7:48 am

I thought the national averagewas over 3 bucks...

At the local Hess station the other day, I paid 2.60 for the cheap stuff.

I see SUVs and Hummers lined up at the local Shell station, just waiting so they could fill up their tanks with 3.10-a-gallon premium gas.

My dad filled up a couple red gas cans (the plastic 5-gallon kind) earlier so we'd have atleast some kind of gas reserve. (Of course if anyone else does this, make sure you put DryGas in it to keep the gas from going "stale".

rawls · Post by **rawls** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:21 am

I lived in New Orleans (in the French Quarter, actually) for a couple years after I got out of college and it is very sad to me the state of things in the city right now. The damage to the infrastructure and the buildings is difficult to see now, but I can say with certainty it will be worse than you might think. A large majority of the homes in the city are very old, often not well maintained and/or termite ridden, and on crappy foundations. The streets were in even worse condition (they had a daily thing on every newcast called the "Pothole Patrol" where people would report potholes around the city and each day there was usually one which took up at least half the road). Unfortunately, in the city the hardest hit (as usual) was the lower ninth ward, which is the poorest section of the city. And just outside of the city, where the more "middle-class" people live (like Metairie, Kenner, and especially Chalmette), look to have worst flooding than the city proper.

But more than anything, I worry about the people I know who live there, many of whom were essentially minimum wage workers, with no cars and often no homes. I hope they made it through the storm safe and don't get hurt by the violence or disease that follows. They are the most friendly, eccentric, scheming, bizarre and carefree people I have ever met, and have missed them ever since I left. They are the lifeblood of the city, and I hope in the end none of them lose the spark that makes them N'awliners.

I am sure the city will rebuild and rebound. However, and I am sad and surprised to say this, I am sure that the city I know and love will not be the same city that rises out of the waters left by Katrina. This event was inevitable, but it is a shame nonetheless.

BTW - If any of you would like to get a good glimpse into the mindset of the people New Orleans, and read a great book while you at it, check out Confederacy of Dunces. It is one of the best American novels of the past century (and funny to boot).

Reaperman@home · Post by **Reaperman@home** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:46 am

benheckc wrote:Worst thing, this [hurricane] is used to justify a 21 cent jump in gas prices

don't get me started on that one. oil speculation, suv craze, same number of refineries since the 70's. The fact is, we are in a bad way.

the hurricane didn't do squat to our refining or drilling capacity (though the refineries are shut down and take days to come back). From what I heard, it hit a rig foodservice barge and that was about it. If anything it dropped demand by about a million people

I'm in limbo about where I'll be moving in december, but I WILL be leaving here (yay). If new orleans is still down I'll likely be in norfolk...
I do hate VA with a passion, but not the same level of passion I hate CA with.

edit: today the news has changed on atlantic drilling capacity. we are, in fact, screwed.

rawls · Post by **rawls** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:11 am

Reaperman@home wrote: I do hate VA with a passion, but not the same level of passion I hate CA with.

You mean you don't like Ventura county?!?!? (I feel your pain - I'm a UCSB grad and grew up in the North Bay and have many a beef with CA).

There are a few refineries just south of NOLA in the Belle Chasse area and those are definitely out. There are also a lot of drilling rigs out in the Gulf that might be affected but there is no damage assessment yet. Nonetheless, I think the affect on oil is more speculative than concrete, and prices will recover (especially since Houston can probably take up a lot of the oil importing/refining slack from Louisiana).

And as far as housing prices in the city, they will probably be rock bottom now (they were pretty low anyway - especially compared with California) so you might be able to get yourself a nice (albiet flood damaged) place.

Reaperman@home · Post by **Reaperman@home** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 12:52 pm

Over the last few days I've become very angry with sensationalized media coverage, and the way the state and local government has failed new Orleans. Both claim the federal government isn't doing enough.

Oddly I look out the window at the end of my hall, and see a C-17 and a C-5(?) loading with busloads of Sea Bees who have likely completed not one, but two tours in Iraq. This is in California--you know they've already mobilized all the CB's on the other coast. But is it even their job? Where's the LA national guard? the CBs have earned a 3-day weekend.

further bothering me is that NOLA is turning down private aid in the way of citizens with boats because of violence which may or may not be exaggerated. These people are here to help, do they think the CBs are any better equipped to deal with armed gangs? Do they think they are any more prepared to open fire on a fellow American? they looked to be unarmed. If they're real lucky they've got a case of rifles to share between everybody on the entire plane. (and these are *big* planes)

Odd how MS seems to be fairing better. are the people less violent there? Less desperate? no, but every camera in the country is in new Orleans, so they're going to find something newsworthy instead of giving us an idea of how things look. I haven't yet found a good diagram of what's flooded and how deep the water is...

rawls> yes, I dislike cali. (mainly socal, the north and east seem fine) I can elaborate if you want, but when I was WI all I wanted to do was leave there--how wrong I was.

to all midwesterners> no matter what you think and how bad you want to leave nothingness, California is a bad option. They just make it look good on TV.

xriverfalconx · Post by **xriverfalconx** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:12 pm

All I know is that gas is way to expensive (i was lucky to find ultra in my area for 3.09)...and now a LOT of gas stations are closing for the weekend by me.

Also, i may get to go help down in louisiana possibly this week...NJ National Guard may be activated and my name is already on that list...not sure if I'll go though.

S q u e e ! · Post by **S q u e e !** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:49 pm

$5.15 in Atlanta. But, if you want to drive, gas prices are something you have to live with. If you don't want to spend $3 per gallon on gas, ride a bike. Driving is a luxury, not a neccesity. We were all born with two feet, and can use other modes of trasportation besides driving cars around, and then complaining because the gas prices are two high. Not all of the problems are because of Katrina, it's true that it is part of the cause, but, if they didn't raise the price, how would they buy the next round of gas, and still be able to make a profit? Think about it.

cennar · Post by **cennar** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 3:25 pm

oil is limited we are on the tail end of being able to sell it like we do.. its vary astounding that we burn some thing thats gettting so rare at such a cheap price as it is how long did you guys think it was suposed to last.. (im buying an elecric car one of these days but sticking with my BMX)

Post by **Sparkfist** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 5:44 pm

S q u e e ! wrote:$5.15 in Atlanta. But, if you want to drive, gas prices are something you have to live with. If you don't want to spend $3 per gallon on gas, ride a bike. Driving is a luxury, not a neccesity. We were all born with two feet, and can use other modes of trasportation besides driving cars around, and then complaining because the gas prices are two high. Not all of the problems are because of Katrina, it's true that it is part of the cause, but, if they didn't raise the price, how would they buy the next round of gas, and still be able to make a profit? Think about it.

Thats not completely true. For areas like where I live driving is a neccessity. Things are spread out too much to get around anyother way then driving. Hell the nearest mall is about 5 miles, my downtown is 2.5 miles from me and Detroit (if you have a reason) is at the closest 15 miles.

Also to Cennar about the oil thing. I have yet to hear that we have reached a decline in oil pumping. The speulation is that we'll have oil up to 2050 but you know what, those scientists really have nothing to base that on. No one knows how much oil (total) was in the Earth and no one knows how much is left.

goodie · Post by **goodie** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:25 pm

I heard that scientists figured out how to make their own oil out of dead animal carcasses or something. If that's so, then they need to start making it. There's no reason we have to rely on the oil inside the earth, when we can make our own. Also, more research needs to be put into alternative fuels. Gasoline isn't the only fuel, after all.